Daniel, sounds like this doc is on the conservative side with the pain meds. Between insurance companies, the fda, and what ever other government body gets involved, some times there's legal issues (depending on state I think) about dispensing some medications. My ex-wife had severe back pain, and the doc had to file forms with the state to prescribe vicodin apparently. Thinks a lot of it depends if you are in-patient or out patient.

Don't exactly remember what you're having radiated, but if it's just neck area and maybe some throat, hopefully won't be terribly bad. That's what I had done last time, and it wasn't all that terribly bad, just did Panadol and it did the trick. However, first time around was also a big chunk of tongue, and things got quite a bit more painful, especially in the last week.

Bob